American Hazelnut (C. americana)
Also known as: American Filbert · Corylus americana
What's special about American Hazelnut (C. americana)
Native multi-stemmed shrub with small sweet nuts; excellent for wildlife and hedgerows.
Growing this variety
American Hazelnut (C. americana) follows the same growing basics as Hazelnut. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Hazelnut family.
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Plant fresh nuts 2–3 in deep in fall, protected from rodents with hardware cloth. Or cold-stratify in damp peat 4 months in the fridge, then sow in deep pots.
Pre-sow treatment
Cold stratify 90–120 days at 34–41°F; sow fresh in fall for best results.
Grower's tip
Most hazelnuts are easier and faster from nursery-grown grafted plants. Seed-grown plants vary in nut size and quality.
Soil preferences
Deep, well-drained native soil. Avoid amending the planting hole heavily — roots should learn to grow into the surrounding earth.
5.5–7.5 depending on species (conifers lean acidic; most hardwoods neutral).
Top-dress with compost and mulch in a wide ring; don't backfill with pure compost.
Watering
Deep soak weekly the first two years while roots establish; taper once the tree self-supports.
Slow trickle at the drip line, not the trunk. A 5-gal bucket with a pinhole is ideal.
Overwatered: yellowing, root rot, mushroom collar. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water only — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering is only for tree seedlings in nursery pots (shallow tray 15 min). Established trees always get watered from above onto the soil.
Temperature tolerance
Broad — most species tolerate 40–90°F once established
Down to species-rated USDA zone minimum
Hardy once established; young seedlings need protection their first winter.
Special germination requirements
Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
Deep tree pots (root trainers) for the first 1–2 seasons; permanent site required for full growth.
Only dwarf, patio, or bonsai forms live long-term in containers.
Detailed harvesting
Not applicable for ornamental/timber trees. Nut and fruit species — pick when they drop naturally.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Nuts: keep damp and cool, sow promptly. Winged/coned seed: dry, cool, dark in a sealed jar.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Shade, windbreak, wildlife habitat, timber, ornament, and long-term carbon storage.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Wind- or insect-pollinated; seedlings rarely match the parent exactly (especially named cultivars — those must be grafted or cutting-grown).
Not practical for trees. Expect variation.
Collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean, dry or keep damp per species, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for hazelnut in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My American Hazelnut (C. americana) Hazelnut notes
American Hazelnut (C. americana) Hazelnut seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
From your kitchen — grow hazelnut from what you already have
Trees usually mean patience — collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean pulp off, and give most species a cold winter (real or in the fridge) before they'll germinate.
- 1Collect ripe seed/nuts/cones in autumn from a healthy parent.
- 2Clean off any fleshy pulp; dry cones warm to release seed.
- 3Cold-stratify in a bag of damp sand or peat in the fridge (34–41°F) for the time listed on the species.
- 4Sow in deep tree pots and grow on 1–2 seasons before planting to a permanent spot.
Storage: Most tree seed keeps 1–3 years cool and dry; oak/hickory/chestnut nuts must stay damp and be sown promptly.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
Loading…
Other Hazelnut varieties
Common Hazelnut (C. avellana)
N/AThe classic European filbert; most commercial cultivars are selections of this species.
Chinese Hazel (C. chinensis)
N/AAsian species with large leaves and edible nuts; less common in cultivation.
Turkish Hazelnut (C. colurna)
N/APyramidal tree form with thick-shelled tasty nuts; popular as a landscape tree.
Siberian Hazelnut (C. heterophylla)
N/ACold-hardy Asian shrub or small tree with small edible nuts.
Manchurian Hazelnut (C. sieboldiana var. mandshurica)
N/ANortheast Asian variety valued for cold hardiness and edible nuts.